New UK Spitfire Restoration Company?

The LAA is very cautious on the subject of aerobatic approvals, largely because whilst the kit manufacturer might suggest the design is fit for +6 -3, there is no guarantee that the construction of an individual kit reaches that absolute value. Some kits are type-approved RV4, some are airframe approved, RV6.

I think the mini-Spit may be aerobatic in some jurisdictions, but needs some concerted effort here for UK approval.

Moggy

It’s the same as “definately” – gets right on my moobs!

I would perhaps blame it on that period of time when they taught phonetics in schools? The confusion of ‘could have’ and ‘could of’ might arise because they are homophones in certain dialects, or because the contraction ‘could’ve’ sounds even more ambiguous? The one that really annoys me is the catty phrase “I could care less”. My reaction is to say go on then, care less!. I understand it might have some sort of Yiddish origin, but it is so widely used that I feel it has lost this link.

I could care less about these Spitfire replicas. 😎

Moggy, why is the flying rules on these things so restricted?

Perhaps the LAA could show the CAA how its done?
mmitch.

Point of detail. All paperwork for the kits is LAA not CAA and not particularly burdensome.

Moggy

Are there any active PPL holders here who, if you won that amount of money in a lottery, would spend it on such a type?

You wouldn’t need a lottery win to buy a share. Indeed a lot less than the two RVs I have owned outright. But I certainly wouldn’t rush. The stopper for me being that a Spitfire I can’t legally loop, roll or otherwise fling around the sky simply isn’t a Spitfire replica at all.

Moggy

It’s the same as “definately” – gets right on my moobs!

they should of named it “

Should _have_. I keep seeing this mistake nowadays, where has it come from? Is it autocorrect generated? Off topic, I know but it’s really annoying!

And it’s still never bloody flown!

Here’s another sacrilegical use of “Spitfire” for an airplane 🙂

http://www.loehle.com/loehle-aircraft-kits/spitfire/

May be the £210,000 includes the CAA’s paperwork? But it would be optimistic to expect them t get it done for 12 aircraft in a year!
mmitch.

Maybe they should of named it “The Shrew”

Either they use the same volunteers to knock up the next eleven or they hire some guys

Well, yes, that’s one of the issues where the naïvety aspect comes in. I sincerely doubt that this kind of mass production falls within the LAA’s definition of “amateur construction”.

If done honestly and not causing financial grief or bodily injury to anyone, why not?

There’s the rub!

This company used volunteers to build the first aircraft. Either they use the same volunteers to knock up the next eleven or they hire some guys. There is no real reason to believe they can deliver eleven fauxfires on the premise that they can make one, time no object, using volunteer labour. Colour me sceptical. As for bodily injury, that depends on the skill of the pilots, right?

They had a German representative for quite a number of years, and it’s propely certified in the microlight category. Only a couple were built. A German, scaled Bf 109 microlight replica achieved similar numbers.

“Not even the very cheap and simple Loehle 5151 Mustang”

Well there might be a reason for that, because on both occasions I tried to contact Loehle to purchase one, they completely ignored me; I presume they wont deal with anyone outside the US (although it might just be me…)

If that’s their liking, why not? I wouldn’t critisize your plane and what you wear in it.

Are there any active PPL holders here who, if you won that amount of money in a lottery, would spend it on such a type?

…and then strut around in a grobag covered in ‘Spitfire’ patches.

Just had a look at Enstone’s homepage and the same price is cited there 😮

The entire enthusiastic concept is a nice one, albeit very naïve in many aspects. If done honestly and not causing financial grief or bodily injury to anyone, why not?

Scaled WW2 replicas have however been around for years (WAR, Jurca, Loehle) and none of them are around in any significant numbers. Not even the very cheap and simple Loehle 5151 Mustang. Why should it be any different with this one, and at that price?

Are there any active PPL holders here who, if you won that amount of money in a lottery, would spend it on such a type?

When I first looked at buying a kit from the then Australian manufacturer they were about £25k! albeit over 10 years ago, the last time I looked they were about £50k, now being made in the USA (I believe) with a choice of engines including the Jabiru 6cyl which doesn’t sound much like a Merlin granted, but does sound a bit like a Griffon…..with a couple of plug leads off……. still a fine sight in the air and I wouldn’t mind one, but a lot of work to build.

In any case, shouldn’t this thread be banished to the moribund Spam Can forum, since we are discussing modern GA aircraft with no historic content.